New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

PHOTOS from "Matilda the Musical" at Pleasant Valley Productions


By John Posada

originally published: 07/16/2022

(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Pleasant Valley Productions is presenting Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical July 15-16 and July 22-23 - each night at 8:00pm - at Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center in West Orange.  The production is directed by Elizabeth Rogers, music directed by Daniel Mullen, and choreographed by Nicole Boscarino.  Photographer John Posada was on hand to take some photos.

Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other’s lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda’s extraordinary personality. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts and could be the school pupil’s saving grace!

The cast (in alphabetical order) - Emma-Rylie Casper, Dominic Crisonino, Juliana Curcio, Sarah Decker, Marissa Gabrielson, Selina Ghosh, Elizabeth Gillen, Susan Hagen, Fabian Hattem, Cory Herbert, Frank James, Andrew Kapferer,  Natalie Kapferer, Ana Knezevic, Richard Leit, Cassandra Lindeblad, Sean Lynch-Littlejohn, Vin Macri, Sherry Mayce,  Emerson Meakem, Danielle Meola Valencia, Grace Pages, Cristina Patrao, Evie Reyes, Noelle Santosuosso, David Simon, and Marissa Tufaro.

General Admission are $10.00 and available at the gate, which opens at 7:30pm.  Bring a lawn chair.  Food concessions are available at each performance.

 




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info



Matilda the Musical is a musical based on the 1988 children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The play features a book by Dennis Kelly; music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.  The musical had its Broadway premiere at the Shubert Theatre on April 11, 2013.  It took home 5 Tony Awards that year.

Here are more photos from the production.

The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center is located at 4 Boland Drive in West Orange, New Jersey.

Pleasant Valley Productions (“PVP”) was formed in 2012 as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community theatre company. Based in West Essex County, they observed that their area of New Jersey had no theatre companies that focused on mentoring local youth in the technical and administrative, as well as the artistic aspects, of theatrical production. Keeping that in mind, their goals are to produce quality productions, mentor the development of young people in the technical, administrative, and artistic roles of a theatre and to develop new works and provide a platform for their expression.


ALL PHOTOS BY JOHN POSADA - If your theatre company is interested in having John Posada cover your plays, contact New Jersey Stage at [email protected].  He has taken photos during live performances and dress rehearsals.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. Currently, John has spent the last 6 years concentrating on photographing almost 400 theater productions at over 70 different NJ theatres. Click here for John's website.




New Jersey Stage provides affordable advertising for the arts, click here for info





You can have your events spotlighted here, whenever someone reads an article about WEST ORANGE

click here for more information


EVENT PREVIEWS

(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- This summer, bergenPAC's Performing Arts School will light up the Taub Stage with the beloved Broadway classic Annie, running July 31 through August 2, 2026. Auditions for the production will be held on Wednesday, May 13th from 4:00pm to 9:00pm. Digital audition submissions will also be accepted now through May 13th. Callbacks will be on May 20th from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.
Middletown Arts Center presents The MAC One-Acts Play-Reading Festival on Thursday

Middletown Arts Center presents The MAC One-Acts Play-Reading Festival on Thursday

(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- Middletown Arts Center presents the seventh edition of The MAC One-Acts Play-Reading Festival on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 7:00pm. The festival features original, one-act works by New Jersey playwrights read theatrically by local actors. Admission is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated.
The Theater Project presents a Staged Reading of "House Rules" by Jack McGrath on May 16th

The Theater Project presents a Staged Reading of "House Rules" by Jack McGrath on May 16th

(CRANFORD, NJ) -- The Theater Project's 2026 New Play Readings series will present a staged reading of Jack McGrath's House Rules on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Cranford Community Center's 110-seat theater. The play tells the story of Bobby Ray – a man who has walked across America to return "home" to try and avert a family tragedy. The problem is that the family he returns to refuses to recognize him, and his homecoming has come 10 years too late.
Stage Players presents "Alice By Heart"

Stage Players presents "Alice By Heart"

(HADDONFIELD, NJ) -- Stage Players (ages 13-17) at Haddonfield Plays and Players presents Alice By Heart from May 14-16, 2026 at Haddonfield Methodist Church. From the Tony® and Grammy® award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress), Alice by Heart is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
American Theater Group presents "The Unwitting Magician"

American Theater Group presents "The Unwitting Magician"

(UNION, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG) will once again present The Unwitting Magician, a special work in development by Jeremy Dobrish, May 16-17, 2026 at the DMK Black Box Theater at the Union Arts Center. The piece was successfully presented last December as part of ATG's Free Monday Night Play Reading Series.
The Levoy Theatre presents "Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Musical"

The Levoy Theatre presents "Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Musical"

(MILLVILLE, NJ) -- The Levoy Theatre presents Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Musical from May 15-17, 2026. Based on the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" Book Series by Jeff Kinney and the 20th Century Studios Films, the musical contains a Book by Kevin del Aguila; Music and Lyrics by Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler.
Center Drama to Hold Auditions for "Grease" this week

Center Drama to Hold Auditions for "Grease" this week

(DEAL, NJ) -- Center Drama will hold in-person auditions for Grease on May 14 and May 17, 2026 at JCC Performing Arts Theater (100 Grant Avenue) in Deal, NJ. Virtual auditions are accepted until May 15th. With a hip-shaking rock 'n' roll score featuring hits like "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin" and "We Go Together," Grease celebrates Rydell High's class of 1959 in all their duck-tailed, bobby-soxed, gum-snapping glory.
Red Bull Theater presents a reading of "Cymbeline, Refinished" on May 18th

Red Bull Theater presents a reading of "Cymbeline, Refinished" on May 18th

(NEW YORK, NY) -- The award-winning Red Bull Theater will conclude their spring Revelation Readings Series on Monday, May 18, 2026 at 7:30pm with Cymbeline, Refinished by William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw and directed by Michael Sexton.
New Jersey Repertory Company presents a staged reading of "Portrait of a Woman in Repose" by Nicky Glossman

New Jersey Repertory Company presents a staged reading of "Portrait of a Woman in Repose" by Nicky Glossman

(LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- New Jersey Repertory Company presents a staged reading of "Portrait of a Woman in Repose" by Nicky Glossman on Monday, May 18, 2026 at the West End Arts Center. The production is directed by James Glossman and features an outstanding cast: Richard Kind, David Strathairn, and Michelle Wilson.
Liberty Arts Theatre presents "I Know What I Give My Life For" (The Short Life Of Walter Klingenbeck) on May 19th

Liberty Arts Theatre presents "I Know What I Give My Life For" (The Short Life Of Walter Klingenbeck) on May 19th

(LEONIA, NJ) -- Liberty Arts Theatre presents "I Know What I Give My Life For" (The Short Life Of Walter Klingenbeck) on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at American Legion Post #1 in Leonia. Admission is free, showtime is 7:30pm. The production is presented by Roland Weimer.

 

MORE EVENTS

Click on the listing to bring up its webpage